I was pretty sure that with the right real estate marketing efforts, property hunters would be banging down their doors, and providing a steady stream of real estate income to them.

But the harsh reality was that they simply were not generating income, at least nothing to shout about. Nothing beyond the odd 3 to 7 night’s rental or a much discounted 30 day long term rental to keep it going, that comes only about every 6 months.

Even if the real estate market was down, these properties had the features and amenities to keep them in demand, so the real estate crash was not the reason. So why had these hot properties gone cold?

But these two property owners aren’t the only ones whose rentals are growing cobwebs and collecting dust. I’ve seen many For Sale By Owner signs, or Real Estate For Sale signs going rusty at the side of the road. Some owners have underestimated the business of selling real estate and have taken on the task of selling their own home believing that this will save them money, they soon come to find out how costly a venture that is. The mortgage must still be paid every month while your property is still dead in the waters 6 months or more later, and generating no qualified real estate leads.

It may come as a news flash to you but selling real estate isn’t a game of luck and chance; it requires a plan, and a well executed marketing strategy that works. Here are a few of the reasons why you may not be cashing in on your real estate profits.

Reason #1 – You Fail to Get Expert Assistance

In my view, the number 1 reason why property owners fail to get their property rented out or sold is because they’re over priced. But when price isn’t the issue the number 1 reason why good real estate investments fail to generate a steady cash-flow is because the owner did not use a realtor. In today’s real estate market about 60% to 70% of buyers use real estate agents to find a property. It means that already you’re reduced to exposing your property to less than half of the market. Then begin to consider, that generally only 5% of persons making inquiries actually amount to qualified leads. The net result of choosing to sell your property on your own is that chances are your property is likely to reach only less than 1% of prospective buyers. This significantly limits your exposure to potential buyers. Your property is therefore likely to remain on the market longer. The longer a property stays on the market the lower the selling price. The higher the exposure of your property on the market, the higher the price you’re likely to secure for your property. Buyers often think that if a property hasn’t been sold after 3 to 6 months, there’s probably something wrong with it. Property hunters are then more likely to bypass your house or rental apartment when making their selections.

Real estate experts generally do not recommend putting up your own home on your own. The market is simply too competitive and buyers can be easily turned off by your lack of real estate savvy.

Reason #2 – You Cannot Generate Qualified Real Estate Leads

Many property owners are under the mistaken belief that if they simply build a luxury property with in demand features and amenities then buyers will come breaking down their door. This is probably one of the biggest myths in real estate. But time and again home owners believe that if the put their house up for viewing, buyers with instantly fall in love with the property and offers to purchase their home will come flooding in. Wrong again. The process of marketing and selling property can be quite complex. You’ve got to understand the market, ensure the property is priced right, target the right buyers, find them, get them to view your property and more importantly convince them to conclude the sale. The buying process has got to be carefully managed from start to finish. Many property hunters of full of uncertainties and may even be quite suspect of the market. Often a buyer may begin to talk themselves out of the buying process, after viewing a property. Even if they like the property, personal doubts about the transaction may still creep in and overwhelm them.

The process of selling real estate can be quite tedious. The key to success is to easily identify qualified buyers so that you can focus your attention on them and close in on the sale. Experienced realtors know how to assess buyers quickly and cut through the chance, zooming in on qualified real estate prospects. In addition, about 70% to 80% of qualified buyers are working with experienced real estate professionals to find their dream home. That’s because real estate agents have greater access to market information that usually puts them in contact with buyers around the world. These agents in turn are working with other realtors to connect their buyers with their property deal. They are involved in real estate sales much more frequently than the average homeowner, and have greater propensity to generate qualified leads. The result is that home owners who try to sell their property on their own are pretty much left out of the loop, and reach less than 1% of the market. And we know how that works. The less exposure your property gets on the market, the more time it spend on the market and the lower the price it is likely to fetch.

Reason #3 - You Lack the Expertise to Close the Sale

There’s probably a lot riding on the sale of your home. You may be relying on the rental income to pay your mortgage, to avoid foreclosure or to purchase a new investment property. Whatever your reasons for selling or renting your property, you should not leave the transaction to chance. The selling process can be very complex and time consuming, however with the aid of our services, be certain that you will come away completely satisfied and stress free. Different types of properties target different segments of the real estate market. A realtors may have a better understanding of real estate market trends  and may be better placed to implement an appropriate real estate marketing plan to suit your property.

More than that, real estate agents have the requisite knowledge, skills and experience to navigate through the buying process. You on the other hand probably have very limited knowledge and you’re more likely to make costly blunders. One of our main objections that sellers face is price. A Realtor are better equipped to arrive at an accurate estimate of value for your home, compare your property with similar listings, and assess the property based on current real estate market trends. Too many property owners come to realize too late that a penny saved is not always a penny earned. Having your property sit on the market is time, and time is money. You may find yourself dealing with frustrated buyers who have complex questions about the buying process that you are ill-equipped to respond to. The result is that negotiations may become extremely awkward and may breakdown, or in a worst case scenario you may make serious real estate blunders and end up in litigation. You may also find yourself negotiating with an experienced real estate sales person representing the buyer, and end up conceding on price. In the end, you may end up selling or renting your property way below market price.

It’s Probably Time To Call in the Experts

Whether or not your mortgage is already paid up, for every day your property remains on the market you’re generating a loss on your real estate investment. So, if you’re sitting on prime St Lucia real estate that simply isn’t generating expected real estate profits, it may well be time to rethink your real estate sales strategy and call in the experts to help you.